5 minutes with...
Prof Dr. Sim Kui Han Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Sarawak General Hospital
Tuesday, May 08,
2012 - 15:49
HEART disease has been the
number one killer in the past three decades in Malaysia. Risk factors of
coronary artery disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol levels, obesity and others factors resulting from sedentary
lifestyle such as less exercises.One in five Malaysians above age 18 have high cholesterol levels. Above the age 30, 42.6% Malaysians have high blood pressure.
According to the latest statistics from the National Cardiovascular Database, we have some of the world’s youngest heart attack patients.
One in five Malaysians under 50 year-old are at risk, while 20% of heart attack victims are also under 50.
Our rate of cardiovascular diseases is also almost similar to those developed countries. While stents can help, a lifestyle change is compulsory to help curb this problem. Malaysians need to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Q. What are the various treatment options available?
The current therapeutic methods for coronary heart disease include Medications, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). Doctors generally will choose the proper therapeutic solution according to the state of the disease and patient’s health condition after making an accurate diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
LATEST: Unlike conventional stent, the Genous bioengineered R
stent promotes fast healing within hours, unlike conventional stents which takes
a longer time to heal
Medication Treatment
Most people with heart disease take medicine to manage their condition and help prevent a heart attack. Physicians may prescribe medicine to helplower blood pressure and cholesterol. Some coronary heart disease patients may take a low-dose aspirin or other anti-clotting medicine to reduce the chance of a heart attack such as Plavix.
In addition to medicines like these, physicians usually recommend regular controlled exercises and a low-fat diet and encourage patients to quit smoking. After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), patients may still require medication and it is important to follow physicians’ instructions and inform physicians other medicines being taken.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft/ Bypass Surgery -Open heart surgery is sometimes called a “bypass” operation, or a coronary artery bypass graft. A section of vein or artery is put in as a coronary artery bypass. This bypass creates new pathways around narrowed or blocked arteries to allow for enough blood flow to deliver oxygen to the heart.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
PCI, previously known as Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), is a procedure involving the:-i) insertion into and anchorage of a guiding catheter (via femoral, radial or brachial approach) at the ostium of the coronary artery; ii) positioning of a guide wire through lesion site inside the coronary artery; iii) opening of a coronary artery using a balloon and/or a stent mounted on a balloon catheter.
When a balloon catheter to squash the atheroma to widen the narrowed artery, blood flow is temporarily stopped and anginalike pain may be felt but only for a short time. The same pain could develop during deployment of a stent which remains inside the artery for permanent support.
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